The Contractor by Mark Abernethy is an exciting crime-thriller novel set in Australia. Abernethy is an award-winning Australian author and this book is the fifth installment in his crime series featuring the protagonist, John Darvelle. The Contractor follows John as he takes on the dangerous task of infiltrating a notorious drug and human-trafficking ring. Along the way, he runs into a variety of dangerous opponents, from a mob boss to a corrupt cop, and must use all of his wits and skills to stay alive and complete his mission.
Plot Summary
The Contractor follows John Darvelle, a former Australian Special Forces soldier who now works as a security consultant. He is hired by a government agency to infiltrate a drug and human trafficking ring. He is sent undercover to the city of Darwin, where he meets a variety of interesting characters, including the mob boss, a corrupt cop and a mysterious woman.
John discovers that the ring is led by a powerful and influential businessman named Alexei, who has connections to high-ranking government officials. As he continues to investigate, he finds himself in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with Alexei’s henchmen. Along the way, he also discovers that the ring is involved in a secret weapons deal with an international arms dealer.
John’s mission becomes more complicated as he is drawn deeper into the criminal underworld. He discovers that his enemies are willing to do anything to protect their interests, and he must use all of his skills in order to stay alive and complete his mission.
Character Analysis
John Darvelle is the protagonist of The Contractor. He is a former Special Forces soldier who now works as a security consultant. He is a highly skilled and experienced operative, but he is also an idealistic and moral person. He is willing to risk his life to protect the innocent and to stop the criminals.
The antagonist of the novel is the mob boss, Alexei. He is a powerful and influential businessman who is determined to protect his criminal empire. He is ruthless and will stop at nothing to protect his interests.
Themes and Symbolism
The Contractor explores the theme of identity. John is a former soldier who is now working as a security consultant. Throughout the book, he struggles to find a sense of identity, as he is pulled between his old life as a soldier and his new life as a security consultant.
The book also explores the theme of morality. John is a moral person who is willing to risk his life to protect the innocent and to stop the criminals. He is faced with difficult moral choices and must decide between his own safety and doing what is right.
Writing Style and Pacing
The Contractor is written in a fast-paced and exciting style. The action scenes are tense and thrilling, and the dialogue is sharp and witty. Abernethy’s writing is suspenseful and engaging, and the pacing of the novel is excellent.
Final Thoughts
The Contractor is a thrilling and exciting crime-thriller novel. Abernethy’s writing is fast-paced and engaging, and the characters are compelling and well-developed. The themes of identity and morality are explored in an interesting and thought-provoking way. The Contractor is an excellent addition to Abernethy’s crime series and a great read for fans of the genre.
Related Work by Mark Abernethy: The Broken Shore
The Broken Shore is another crime-thriller novel by Mark Abernethy. The novel follows John Darvelle as he investigates the murder of a prominent businessman in a small coastal town. As he investigates, he discovers a web of corruption and violence that threatens to engulf the entire town. The Broken Shore is an excellent read and an important addition to Abernethy’s crime series.
